Improvement in explosive projectiles for rifled ordnance



G/W. SMITH, G. H. BABGOGK, 86 B. B. & G. A. HOTCHKISS.

Shell.

Patented Apr; 28, 1863.

No. 3s,359.

Zzvemi 01w NPETERS, FHOTQ-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D, c.

lUNrrnn fi rarns Parent rricn.

CHAS. W. SMITH AND G. H. BABCOCK, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., AND B. B.

IIOTCHKISS AND CHAS. A. HOTCHKISS, OF SHARON, CONNECTICUT,

IMPROVEMENT IN EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES FOR RIFLED ORDNANCE.

Specification forlning part of Letters Patent No. 35,359., dated April 28, 1863.

shrapnel for use in rifled ordnance,where-' by the advantages due to the use of said class of projectiles are secured in connection with those pertaining to the use of the rifle, and further advantages not heretofore realized, as will be hereinafter explained.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our said invention, we will proceed to describe the same by the aid of the accompanying drawing, which is a vertical section of the construction which we consider preferable.

A is the body of a projectile resembling,externally, an ordinary Hotchkiss shell. 7 The cavity therein'is made in the form represented, and is divided into two parts by the plate B, which rests loosely upon. the shoulders a c,prepared for that purpose. The foremost of these cavities is filled wit-h balls C and the other with powder I), the plate B serving to divide the same and confine each to its proper place. A tube, E, extends from the plate B to the point-fuse F, connecting the latter with the powder, as represented. The form of the cavity is such that a weak line, G G, is left near the point of the shell,which weak line will first give way to the force of the explosion and allow the balls C to be projected from the shell, much in the manner of grape from a cannon, directly in the line of flight, or at a comparatively small angle therewith.

In constructing our improved shell we cast the body A with the cavity therein, in the usual manner. The plate B is too large to en ter at the fuse-hole, and we therefore insert it in the core,which forms the cavity, and when the core has been removed in the usual manner the plate B remains and falls into its place upon the shoulders a.

The point of the shell beyond the line G G may, however, be cas separate and screwed into the body, in which case the plate B may be inserted before the point is put in place. A washer, I, of cloth or other suitable material, is placed between the plate B and shoulders to a, to serve as a packing to prevent the powder from sifting through the joint among the balls C. \Vere it not for this packing I, the powder would be liable to enter between the plate B and i'tsseat a and become ignited by the sudden friction occasioned by the discharge, thus producing a premature explosion, to the great danger of those in the vicinity of the gun. When the plate B is cast within the shell, as described above, this washer is first gummed, and then inserted through the fuse-hole and stuck to the plate B, when the latter is shakentoits place. The tube E is then inserted and the balls 0 packed in, as represented, the tube B being of such length as to allow the balls to pass be tween its end and the mouth of the shelf,when

the fuse-plug K is screwed to its place, em-' bracing the end of the tube E. In this condition the shell is ready for transportation, and when required for use powder is poured in at the fuse-hole, so as to fill up the cavity D and the tube E, as shown. The fuse F, of the proper length for the required range, is then inserted and the whole fired from any proper rifled gun. \Vhen the fuse F has been con sumed, the powder D is ignited and tends to rupture the shell; but in consequence of the form thereof the point is first blown off at the weakest line C, and the balls C are projected forward with an increased velocity, the rotary motion of the shell serving to scatter them sufficiently for causing them to act over the re quired area. The shell A may be burst at other points also, and thus act as an ordinary shell; but the main effect is intended to be derived from the bullets C, the shell A serving,

mainly,as a means of conveying them to their destination, and as a mortar from which they are discharged by the explosion of the charge, the bullets receiving a fresh impetus at the expense of that of the shell. At long ranges this action is important, for though at such ranges the shell as awhole might be able to do execution, when broken into small pieces or the bullets simply liberated, each separate piecewould not have suffieient momentum to effect any useful purpose, owing to the diminished velocity, but when propelled by a fresh impetus, as in our invention, each bullet will be capable of doing nearly the same execution as if just fired from a gun.

It is essential to thesuccess of the invention that the plate 13. should be of such strength and firmly supported by the body of the shell that the inertia of the ball 0 shall not crush it backward upon the powder in Dat the instant of the explosion of the charge in the gun. The resistance to so sudden a motion is very great, and were not, the plate B well supported the powder in D would be crushed and rendered useless.

' 'Weareaware that'shells' have heretofore been, proposed in which the charge of bullets were placed in front of the charge of powder, with the intention of causing them to be dis charged in the'line of flight; but as such shells were proposed to be constructed the inertia of the bullets would have so completely crushed the powder as to render their explosion very improbable.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I, In explosive projectiles for rifled ordnance, dividing the cavity into two parts by the plate B, or its equivalent, supported upon or by the body of the shell, so that it cannot be forced backward by the inertia of the balls 0, but may be easily thrown forward by the explosion of the powder in D, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of the tube E, plate B, and fuse-plug K, so arranged that the bullets 0 may be inserted through the mouth of the shell afterthe tube E is in place, and the fuseplug caused to embrace the end thereof, substantially as herein shown.

3. An explosive projectile in which the point is cast in one piece with the loody, with Z V tweak line, and with the plate B inserted in the cavity thereof, in the manner herein specified,

In testimony whereof We have hereunto. set our names.

. CHAS. WV. SMITH.

G. H. BABOOOK. B. B. HOTOHKISS. CHARLES A. HOTOHKISS. Witnesses:

THOMAS CREGIN, THOMAS D. SrETsoN, JONAS F. OONATH, Jr. 

